Continuously cycling automatic timer attachment for a wall mounted toggle switch



Apr1l20, 1965 R. TROCK 3,179,758

CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING AUTOMATIC TIMER ATTACHMENT FOR A WALL MOUNTED TOGGLE SWITCH Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 20852 T 7206K MA 4. fax

ATTORA/EX Apnl 20, 1965 R. TROCK 3,179,758

CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING AUTOMATIC TIMER ATTACHMENT FOR A WALL MOUNTED TOGGLE SWITCH Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii 61 INVENTOR.

P0852 T 7000f,

United States Patent Office 31%,758 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 3,179,758 CQNTINUOUSLY CYCLING AUTOMATIC TIMER ATTACHMENT FORA WALL MOUNTED TOG- GLE SWITCH Robert Trock, 28 Eleanor Lane, Plainview, NY. Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,477 8 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-38) This invention relates to devices for automatically op- 'erating toggle switches of the type ordinarily used in house lighting circuits, on a predetermined schedule.

A need exists for a device that can readily be attached by the average householder to existing toggle switches for turning lights on and off. While there are currently available devices into which a lamp or other lighting device may be plugged and which will automatically turn the device on and off at a predetermined time, such prior art devices are limited in their application. For example, the householder may desire to turn on and off the outside lights surrounding his home during periods of absence. In order to use the conventional type device, he is required to cut into the electric lines, a task that in many localities may be done legally only by a licensed electrician and is generally beyond the scope of most householders.

The device of the present invention consists of a simple unobtrusive device which may be readily attached to an existing switch box and which will turn on and subsequently turn oif the circuit on a repetitive basis, so that if the household is away from his home for a period of weeks, the device automatically performs the function without reset. A device of this type must be produced at a low enough cost to make wide distribution economically feasible. If the cost of a unit is too high, the market for such a device is drastically reduced and the unit becomes commercially impractical. It is also essential that the device be compact and unobtrusive so it will not present an unsightly appearance.

Another requirement is that such a device will not interfere with the normal operation of the light switch.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a toggle switch timer that is easily installed as an attachment for toggle switches and which can be used to cyclically turn a switch on and off, with a preset time interval.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toggle switch control which is easily installed as an attachment for standard toggle switches by utilizing the standard switch wallplate mounting fixtures.

A different object of this invention is to provide a low cost timing device for toggle switches.

A still different object of this invention is to provide a simple and foolproof toggle switch actuating means.

Still a different object'of this invention is to provide a toggle switch actuating mechanism which utilizes a conventional synchronous timing motor and gear train as a component thereof.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the unit mounted on the conventional electrical wall plate;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG.6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the unit designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The unit is mounted over a conventional wall switch cover plate 11. A power cord 12 and plug 13 are provided for connection to an external power source.

As may be seen by reference to FIG. 2, within housing 15 a sheet metal chassis 14 supports the mechanism. Chassis 14 is shown in perspective in FIG. 3. Mounted on the chassis is a motor gear train package 16 of the type conventionally used in clocks and like timing devices. There is incorporated within the housing 16a of package 16 a synchronous motor in cascade with an integral gear train terminating in an output shaft 17 extending from housing 16:: upon which is mounted for rotation therewith a pinion gear 18. The location of the motor gear train package 16 is shown in phantom.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the pinion 18 is engaged by an idler gear 20. The idler is mounted on a fixed stud 22 carried by pivoted arm 24. The arm is loosely mounted on shaft 26 and is biased by spring 28 to cause the idler 20 to engage with pinion 18. A drive gear 30 engages the idler gear 20. A cam 32 and the drive gear 30 are both secured to shaft 26 for rotation therewith. In operation, shaft 26, drive gear 30, cam 32 and pinion gear 18, rotate counterclockwise and idler gear 20 fixed to shaft 22 rotates clockwise. As the cam 32 rotates, it engages one or the other cam followers 34 or 35, causing plate 36 to move upward and downward in sequence about pivot pin 38, thus causing studs 39 and 40 to engage the handle 42 of the toggle switch. Cam 3-2 is always in contact with one or the other cam followers 34 and 35. Shafts 26 and 38 are held captive by the chassis 14 and plate 44 secured to the chassis. Knob 50 of FIG. 1 permits the setting of the desired operating time, being secured to shaft 26 for rotation therewith. As the shaft 26 is manually rotated clockwise by the setting action of knob 50, drive gear 30 is also rotated clockwise but idler 20, in meshing engagement with gear 31 is rotated counterclockwise. This will effect a ratcheting action between idler gear 20 and pinion 18 since the pinion can only rotate counterclockwise. To provide the ratcheting or disengagement, idler gear 20 is mounted on pivotable arm 24. The deflection of gear 20 away from pinion 18 need only be large enough to disengage the teeth of gears 20 and 18. When the proper setting of knob 50 is attained, spring 28 will once again bias idler gear 20 into meshing engagement with pinion 18 and the device will be ready to operate. Cam 32, by the aforementioned setting procedure, will therefore be repositioned with respect to cam followers 34 and 35. In this manner, this simple mechanism permits manual over-ride of the timing mechanism for manual actuation of the switch. The particular combination and arrangement of components just described also functions as whatmay broadly be termed a one-way clutch. That is, when the device is operating as a timer, the gear train, namely, drive gear 30, idler gear 20, and pinion 18, will be connected and knob 50 will rotate counterclockwise. However, when a clockwise motion is imparted to knob 50 in order to reset it, the train of gears will be broken because idler gear is carried out of meshing engagement with pinion 18 by pivotable arm 24. Biasing spring 28 serves to return and maintain gears 20 and 18 in mesh during timing operation of the device.

In employing the device of the present invention, the

unit is mounted over the conventional outlet box cover plate. The unit includes means [for engaging the protruding lever of the standard single throw toggle switch, such as is used for control of lighting in the home. The two conventional cover plate mounting screws are removed and the long mounting screws 52. (FIGS. 2 and 5) are employed to secure the unit to the outlet box. The motor gear train package 16 is energized by plugging power cord 12 and plug 13 into a convenient outlet. Knob 5t? is manually rotated clockwise until cam 32, which is rotated by said knob, causes the studs 39 and 4% to abut against the switch handle and throw the switch manually into on or off position depending upon which stud abuts the switch handle first. If so desired, the unit may be left completely unattended from this point onward and will automatically establish an on-off sequence upon the rotation of the cam. However, if it should be desired to set a time for a given on or off movement of the switch, it is necessary to manually throw the switch by rotating the knob in the opposite direction, and then advance the knob a selected number of hours so that the unexpired time remaining will then be the "eriod before the switch is thrown.

It will be appreciated that this device is of simple inexpensive construction, and can readily be installed by unskilled personnel. It may thus be sold to the general public at low cost. The device further is of very small compact dimensions and is unobtrusive in the home. It does not interfere with manual control as knob 59 can be manipulated at will to throw the switch on or off as desired.

A particularly noteworthy feature of this invention is the simplicity of parts employed. The motor gear train used in the timer is a conventional low cost unit which eliminates the use of complete clock assemblies. Another noteworthy feature of this invention is that the device can be left unattended for indefinite periods of time, providing protection for the home where occupants are away for any number of days at a time, as it will set ligh s 'on and off in timed intervals during the day and night. While the device will normally be used for a l2-hour cycle, it will be obvious that the gear and cam dimensions can be arranged to provide other time cycles as desired.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodimerit of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a wall-mounted toggle switch having an outwardly extending handle:

a housing;

means for mounting said housing proximate to said handle;

a constantly running motor having a first output shaft;

gear means engaged by said first output shaft;

a second rotatable shaft driven by said gear means;

a cam mounted on and rotatable with said second shaft;

toggle switch engaging means pivotally mounted within said housing said toggle switch engaging means having first protuberances in engagement with and responsive to the movement of said cam and second protuberances disposed proximate to and on either side of the toggle switch handle; and

a knob disposed on the exterior of said housing and secured to said second rotatable shaft for manually adjusting the position of said cam relative to said toggle switch engaging means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cam is rotated by said gear means once daily to thereby impart twelvehour alternating cycle of on-off periods to said switch handle.

3. A device for imparting intermittent cyclical to-andfro motion to a wall-mounted toggle switch having an outwardly extending handle, said motion defining a time cycle, said device comprising:

a chassis;

a constant speed constantly running motor means disposed on said chassis;

a first shaft rotated by said motor means;

gear means rotated by said first shaft;

a second shaft rotated by said gear means at one revolution per time cycle;

a cam carried by said second shaft;

a plate pivotally secured to said chassis;

cam follower means disposed on said plate in engagement with said cam and receiving intermittent, cyclical, to-and-fro motion upon intermittent, cyclical abutment with said cam;

toggle switch engaging means responsive to said cam follower means in intermittent, cyclical, to-and-fro motion, said switch engaging means disposed proximate to and on either side of said toggle switch whereby said toggle switch is cyclically opened and closed by the rotation of said cam; and

a knob fixedly carried by said second shaft.

I 4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said cam imparts alternating equal on-otf periods to said handle.

5. A timing device in combination with a wall mounted toggle switch having an outwardly extending handle comprising:

a housing;

means for mounting said housing proximate said handle;

a chassis secured within said housing;

a constantly running motor and a cascaded gear train including a first output shaft and a pinion gear rigidly secured to the first output shaft, the pinion gear being driven by said motor, said motor being mounted on said chassis;

a second shaft mounted on said chassis;

an operating gear secured to said second shaft;

a pivot arm loosely mounted on said second shaft;

an idler gear rotatably jour'n-aled on said pivot arm whereby said idler gear is in meshing engagement with said operating gear and said pinion gear when said device is operating;

biasing means extending between said chassis and said pivot arm whereby said idler gear is urged into meshing en agement with said pinion gear when said device is operating;

a cam secured to said second shaft for rotation therewith;

a plate pivot-ally mounted on said chassis;

a pair of spaced cam followers mounted on said plate whereby said cam is in engagement with either one of said pair of cam followers;

toggle switch engaging means responsive to said cam in intermittent, cyclical, to-and-fro motion, said switch engaging means disposed on said plate proximate to and on either side of said handle; and

an indicia bearing knob secured to said second shaft,

said knob disposed to rotate in a first angular direction by the operating motion of said gear train, said knob being manually rotatable in a second angular direction for resetting whereby said idler gear is deflected out of engagement with said pinion gear.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said cam is rotated by said gear train once daily to thereby impart twelve hour alternating cycle of on-off periods to said handle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including a pivotal arm loosely mounted on said shaft and wherein said second gear means comprises a pair of spaced, fixed position gears and a variable position gear journaled on said piv- 5 6 otal aim for rotation between said fixed position gears, References Cited by the Examiner said variable position gear being rotatable with said fixed UNITED STATES PATENTS gears 2,578,632 12/51 Miller 200 -38 The 9 7 l l 'i 2,937,247 5/60 Laviana et a1. 20043 urging and maintannng sald variable pos1t1on gear lnto 5 operable meshing engagement with said fixed position BERNARD GILHEANY, Primary Examine?- gears. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION WITH WALL-MOUNTED TOGGLE SWITCH HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING HANDLE: A HOUSING; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID HOUSING PROXIMATE TO SAID HANDLE; A CONSTANTIALLY RUNNING MOTOR HAVING A FIRST OUTPUT SHAFT; GEAR MEANS ENGAGED BY SAID FIRST OUTPUT SHAFT; A SECOND ROTATABLE SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID GEAR MEANS; A CAM MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID SECOND SHAFT; TOGGLE SWITCH ENGAGING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING SAID TOGGLE SWITCH ENGAGING MEANS HAVING FIRST PROTUBERANCES IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM AND SECOND PROTUBERANCES DISPOSED PROXIMATE TO AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TOGGLE SWITCH HANDLE; AND A KNOB DISPOSED ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING AND SECURED TO SAID SECOND ROTATABLE SHAFT FOR MANUALLY ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID CAM RELATIVE TO SAID TOGGLE SWITCH ENGAGING MEANS. 